Concrete



Patented Aug. 19, 1952 EXAMINER CONCRETE Karl V. Vail. Los Angeles, Calif., assignor of onefiftli to Edward P. Vail and one-fifth to Robert G. Blanchard, both of Los Angeles, Calif.

No Drawing. Application December 10, 1948,

Serial No. 64,715

5 Claims. (Cl. 106-97) My invention relates to a concrete and to a method or rendering deleterious sands harmless, and has particular reference to a concrete mix having anggdjiyejhereto either in the form of a goarsg' aggregate, a line aggregate, or as a substitute or additive to a cementing agent ghigl ou nteracts the deleterious qualities of the coarse or fine aggregate used in combination in the concrete.

Concretes are composed of a mixture of coarse aggregate, fine aggregate and a cementing agent, the cementing agent usually being Portland cement. In view 01' the fact that the coarse and the fine aggregates are excessively heavy and bulky, economics demands that the closest available source of supply be used. the cost of tran portation from more remote points being prohibitive.

Extensive tests have indicated that the quality of the aggregate varies considerably with the location from which it is mined.

The strength of a concrete structure is usually dependent upon the strength of the aggregate used and the extent to which all possible voids have been filled, together with the tenacity oi the cementing agent. Hydraulic cements such as Portlandeement upon se mg are elieved to form a structure which is highly tenacious to the surface of the ag regates, thereby effectively bonding the aggregates together to form a satisfactorily strong structure.

It has been noted over a period of time and by exhaustive laboratory tests that most aggregates contain e riou which ultimately u .a.. s e o Fo e .soatrei a illifi The reason for such degeneration is not clearly known, but it is believed that the ag regates contain varying percentages of soluble silica which, in the presencepi alkalies, w orm sili a which develop osmotic pressures up to approximately 550 lbs. per sq. in. It is, therefore, felt that the formation of the silica jells, which absorb water and expand, cause a weakening and degeneration of the concrete structure.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a concrete aggregate using an additive :lii'iifififi'qy preventing orma on oi silica jells ereby rendering otherwise deleterious aggregates innocuous.

It is possible in the laboratory and in closely controlled production to substantially reduce the alkaline content of Portland cement. It has, however, been found that the degree of control necessary is not warranted from a commercial a li or economic standpoint. I have found and have established by numerous laboratory tests. as will appear later from examples, that the addition of certain percentages of finely powdered altered anorthosite, that is, anorthosite from m em-tr.

= a Portland cement to a point where silica iells no longer form.

It is therefore, one or the objects of my invention to produce 9. Portland cement containing varying percentages of an allrali ge r e duging agent, such as altered anorthosite, depending upon the percentage of solublelsilica contained in the aggregates, whichiiillfprevent theiormation of silica jells in the final product. Thave also found that the formation of silica jells can be inhibited or prevented by the use of altered anorthosite as a substitute for, or additive to, the fine aggregates, such as sand, in the concrete mixture.

During the hydrolysis of Portland cement and the formation of the crystalline structure, considerable amounts 01 heat are generated. One very serious problem in large concrete structures. such as dams or piers, lies in the removal of heat being generated. It is apparent that the amount or heat generated is in direct proportion to the amount of cement used, and that if an equivalent strength can be obtained by the use of smaller amounts of cement, definite advantages are gained from the standpoint of removal of heat.

stantia y a I have found that by the substitution of finely ground altered anorthosite, which contains some with mallemeaafiiilcem t. thereby av i the production 0 calcium zeolite, for some of the cement, that a s ruc e'o equivalent strength can be produced 1' excessive heat.

- isfliflame applied by T. Sterry Hunet to granitoid rocks that consist of little else than labradorite, which is primarily a limesoda ielgsgar. R'fias a chemical composition of 0 mm, s um, aluminium silicate mCaAlzSizOa L in the Home series.

Altered anorthosite is anorthosite with sube alkali leached out. Standard tests for compr'fiive'ifiength of concrete structures are usually made with a mortar bar and subjected to compressive loads at the end of seven and twenty-eight days, three months and up to four years. It has been found that concrete increases gradually in strength during these periods. However, it has also been found that at the end of the four-year period, the mortar bar, in the event that deleterious i' zl.

3 aggregates are used. will have increased in size. Such increase in size can present serious problems in construction work. In view of the fact that four-year waiting periods are impractical, if it is desired to test a given aggregate for a proposed structure, laboratory tests have shown that there is a direct ratio between the alkalinity and soluble silica in a concrete 'mix and the degree of swelling at the end of the four-year 4 up to the end of the three-month test, but that those mixes containing anorthosite increased at a greater rate and ultimately reached a higher compressive strength.

6 A further test was run on substantially the same basis and resulted in the following comparisons:

as a means fir retm the amount swelling of a concrete mix. It therefore, hi'gfil? aesira' He and is one of the objects of my invention to produce a concrete mix, which is low in soluble, silica and which results in a high degree of reduction of t The low soluble silica can be tained by using anorthosite as ancoarsg agge:

ate and/or altered anortfiosite as th a e. Alka y can be greatly reduced by usng a finely ground ltered anorthosite as a substitute for or additive to the cement.

E an example, the following test was run, the purpose of the test being to determine the efiect of finely ground anorthosite on compressive strength of cement-graded sand mortars. method of testing was as follows: One part of cement was mixed with 2.75 parts graded sand p us ely ground anorthosite. mixes was tested for compressive strength on 2" x 2" cubes at the end of seven days, twentyeight days and three months. The following results were observed:

Compressive Strength (2" x 2" Each of the ea of 1 MixNumbm' 1 2A 3A 4A In No 92384 92385 92386 0 0 41 0 03 4 Ottawa 010050 Band. 2153 2134 2100 low, Percent 110 109 110 W/C Ratio by Weight 0 520 0. 547 0. 587

Compressive Strength (2" x 2 Cubes):

2,200 2,735 2,700 3,070 7days 2,350 2,565 2,773 3,103 2, 370 2, 670 2, 940 3, 210 I 1 1- e- 7-day average 2,307 2,690 2,804 3&3 Percent 01 Standard 100 115 {121, 130

4,250 3,502 4,010 28-day 3, 745 4,930 3,267 3, 760 3, 732 4, 487 3, 515 3, 810

28411411 Average 8,858 4 550 3,528 4.000

The Percent of Standard 100 118 105 3-month strength due 7/27/48... 4, 228 5, 374 6, 811 5, 548 Percent of Standard 100 127 131 It is of interest to note that mix No. 3A, which started at 121% of standard in compressive strength at the end of seven days had decreased to 91% of standard at the end of twenty-eight days, but had regained its original advantage and increased to 137% of standard at the end of the three-month period. The conclusion must be reached that whereas the standard mix, that is, containing no anorthosite. increased faster between seven and twenty-eight days tests, the

mix 3A continued to increase at a much greater Cubes), Lbs. per sq. 111.: rate than was found in the case of the standard 7-day 2,301 2,090 2,304 3,143 mix 28-day 3,053 4,550 3,528 4,050

m tr m ffi 5,255 ,001 5,135 A test was run to determine the effect of sub- 5 mg gfggg 2%; stituting finely ground anorthosite f rt of r 4 m the cement. The mix comstfi of parts 3 5'375 of gra e Ottawa sand to one part cemnt plus Percent 01 Standard... 127 1 7 1 1 anorthosite. The following results were observed:

MixNumber 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 La tory Number mes 02101 02102 02103 03003 03004 02002 nrnent 1 0 0. 92 0. 0.75 0.70 0.60 0.50 1111010155105 0.08 0.15 0.25 030 0.40 0.50 Ottawa Graded Band 215 2.15 2.15 2.15 2.15 2.15 low Percent 09 107 107 106 109 107 107 we RatiobyWt--- 0.404 0552 0.530 0.505 0.110 0.835 1.013 Compressge Strength (2" x 2" Cubes), Lbs.

Aver.of3 4,228 5,333 4,002 4,042 3.050 3,015 2,150

Percentoi Standar 126 109 117 87 73 05 It will be noted that mix No.1 contained no anorthosite and was, therefore, used as a standard. It should also be noted that at the end of seven days, the standard mix was substantially equal to the other mixes containing anorthosite,

It is of particular and significant importance to note that at the end of the seven-day period, the standard mix was stronger than all of the mixes containing anorthosite with the exception of mix No. 2. However, at the end of twentyand that each of the mixes increased in strength eight days mix Nos. 2 and 3 were stronger than mum the standard, and at the end of three months mix Nos. 2, 8 and 4 had increased in strength beyond the standard mix. These tests seem to indicate and bear out the theory that in a standard mix the cement hydrol es rather rapidly and gradually loses part of e water of hydrolysis to the osmotic silica jells so that the initial strength is not increased as rapidly as desired. and that the addition of finely ground anorthosite to the cement inhibits the formation of silica iells, thereby allowing prolonged and greater increase in strength of the structure.

The above tests tend to establish that altered anorthosite and/or its resultant sand, when usfi crete, will eliminate or reduce to a point of innocuousness'tiemeferious reactivit of those a grea s subjem r'eactlvt when E comEinaHon Misc... 11mm:w nently -stable 'concrete'free from failure and disintegration.

Such additive will also increase the strength of the concrete or maintain the strength of the concrete with less cement thus effecting a reduction in cement cost, a proportionate reduction in heat generation and expense in connection with control of concrete temperatures and a reduction in the number of contraction joints.

These characteristics are attributable to the chemical and physical composition in that it is comparatively free from alkalies which have been leached out.

' es colloidal ferric and aluminum silicate and h droxi n co er and a uminum in the presence of calciumlcarbggte, maE- Es it an absorbent or adsorbent of the alkalies in the cemen pro a y a con ome enite W1 titanium dioxide in colloidal form.

e exact reason or e reac on c anor o site or altered anorthosite in reducing allialinity 'fna concrete mix and rendering the mix innocuous is not too clearly known. It is, however, felt that the reaction is similar to the reaction of the calcium zeolites such as chabazite,

and 1131 .13.

iksiqiQmfigo) means of an ionic exchange with the alkalies renders the a a es a ess an pre 5 formation of deleterious ilica ells,

form ii the aBsence oi alE'a Hes. The soluble sili thBI'EfOIG hdIQ ona cementin Ha my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A concrete mix comprising a coarse aggregate, a fine aggregate including anorthosite from which substantially all alkalies have been leached, and a hydraulic cement.

2. A concrete mix comprising a coarse aggregate, a fine aggregate and a hydraulic cement having finely ground anorthosite added thereto, said anorthosite having substantially all alkalies leached therefrom.

3. A concrete mix comprising a coarse aggregate, a fine aggregate and a cementing agent comprising from .92 to .50 parts by weight hydraulic cement and .08 to .50 parts by weight anorthosite from which substantially all alkalies have been leached.

4. A cementing agent comprising Portland cement and finely ground anorthosite from which substantially all alkalies have been leached.

5. A cementing agent comprising Portland cement and 8 to by weight finely ground anorthosite from which substantially all alkalies have been leached.

,- and acts t an addi- KARL V. VAIL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 89 Re. 19,005 Wilner Nov. 21, 1933 1,317,525 Romano Sept. 30, 1919 1,406,421 Senan Feb. 14, 1922/: f? 1,696,899 Baccovich Jan. 1, 1929 A y 1,865,732 Wagner July 5, 1932 

1. A CONCRETE MIX COMPRISING A COARSE AGGREGATE, A FINE AGGREGATE INCLUDING ANORTHOSITE FROM WHICH SUBSTANTIALLY ALL ALKALIES HAVE BEEN LEACHED, AND A HYDRAULIC CEMENT. 